updated 04:25 pm EDT, Thu June 25, 2009

LG outs thin LED HDTVs

LG Electronics on Thursday announced the release of two ultra-slim full LED-backlit LCD HDTVs in Seoul. Both the 55LH95 and 55LH93 sport 55-inch screens and are positioned as high-end offerings in LG's lineup. LG touts the TVs have 3,360 LEDs, which is seven times more than existing edge-lit LED TVs. LG's technology also divides the screen into 240 blocks, which helps them to achieve a 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Either TV also sports a 240Hz panel and is just under one inch thick. LG in part achieved this in part by the integration of a wireless signal receiving hardware that does not require content from DVD players, game consoles or home theater units to be sent via wires. The wireless method is said not to degrade the signal.

The 55LH93 is priced at the equivalent of about $5,500, while the 55LH95, which is due out in July, will cost approximately $5,900. The difference between the two models has not been made clear by LG. Less costly 42- and 47-inch models that will be somewhat thicker will be released later this year as well.